An unbeaten seven-game finish, which included five draws, was just about enough to secure survival.

Michael Folivi has returned to AFC Wimbledon on loan from Watford. Photo: PA

Six teams were in danger of the drop going into the final weekend.

AFC Wimbledon played out a goalless draw at already-relegated Bradford. Southend secured a dramatic late win against Sunderland. Plymouth, despite a 3-2 win against Scunthorpe, went down courtesy of goal difference.

DEPARTURES

Captain and centre-back Deji Oshilaja, a target of former Town boss Paul Hurst, joined newly-promoted Charlton on a Bosman free transfer.

Right-back Toby Sibbick also moved up the pyramid, joining newly-promoted Barnsley for a six-figure fee.

AFC Wimbledon winger Dylan Connolly didnlt make a first team appearance for Ipswich Town. Photo: PA

Midfielder James Hanson was sold to League One rivals Oxford United, while experienced striker Andy Barcham was released.

ARRIVALS

A mix of left-field punts, League One experience and Premier League loans.

Adam Roscow, 24, was handed the No.10 shirt after arriving from Welsh Premier League side Cardiff Met Uni.

Nesta Guinness-Walker, a 19-year-old left-back, reportedly turned down offers from two Premier League clubs to join the Dons from non-league club Metroplitan Police.

Striker Michael Folivi, 21, has returned on loan from Watford after playing his part in last season's survival mission. Keeper Nathan Trott, 20, is on loan from West Ham.

Defender Luke O'Neill and the versatile Callum Reilly both arrived on free transfers from Gillingham following Steve Evans' shake-up at Priestfield.

SEASON SO FAR

There were lots of draws (12) and single goals defeats (15) for AFC Wimbledon last season and that's exactly how they've started this campaign.

Wally Downes' men put up a good fight against newly-relegated Rotherham at Kingsmeadow on the opening day, but in the end conceded a late goal to lose 2-1. The Millers were good value for the three points.

"We wanted to be a League One team, and we are a League One team. Going to places like Sunderland and Ipswich is fantastic for the fans and fantastic for the players. We've got to go there and put on a good performance.

"We put a good performance on at Sunderland last year and was unfortunate to come away with a 1-0 defeat.

"I'm not sure, but I don't think the club have ever played at Portman Road, so it's gonna be great going there on Tuesday. We need to certainly be at our best over the next week."

FAMILIAR FACES

Two Irish youngsters in Shane McLoughlin and Dylan Connolly.

McLoughlin, 22, was released by Paul Lambert midway through last season. A regular for the club's Under-23s for some time, his senior breakthrough at Portman Road never really came.

The only time we saw him for the first team was when the kids all played at Crystal Palace in the League Cup and as a late substitute in a 2-2 home draw with Middlesbrough during Bryan Klug's caretaker spell.

He's been used a late sub - totalling 38 minutes - in all three League One games so far this season.

There was much excitement surrounding Connolly when Mick McCarthy signed him from Shelbourne in February 2015. The speedy winger never made a first team appearance though and ended up going home to play for Bray and Dundalk.

He was Downes' first signing back at the start of 2019 and has been playing the role of impact sub.

There's also Anthony Wordsworth, the midfielder McCarthy paid £100k to sign from Colchester back in January 2013 but never really then seemed to fancy. He went on to have three seasons at Southend before joining AFC Wimbledon last summer.

The 30-year-old was a key man last season but is currently sidelined with an Achilles injury.

KEY MAN

Striker Joe Pigott remains an AFC Wimbledon player having been linked with a summer move to Championship clubs Charlton and Reading.

He scored 18 goals last season - including 10 in the last 14 - and netted on the opening day of this campaign.

Downes has labelled him 'magnificent', claiming the 25-year-old has added strength to his natural goalscoring ability.